As I sleeplessly perused the internet late last night, I discovered this hilariously awkward holiday edition of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. Thought I'd share it with you on this special day.

I also published a couple blog entries yesterday, which may be of interest today. In the first, I exhort my fellow Christians to check their privilege at the stable door (referring to the rugged place where, we are told, Jesus was born in Bethlehem). The second entry highlights Pope Francis' recent exhortation to the (mostly desperately poor) dumpster divers of the world. Turns out the Pope may be a freegan himself!

And whether you celebrate(d) yesterday, today, tomorrow, or not at all, I wish you a very joyful and peaceful holiday season. Remember:

Last week, I promised further thoughts about having quit my day job at Darling Coffee. I've posted some of them at the Matt 6:24 blog. I repeat: Capitalism, eat my shorts!

I also just posted a video that a student journalist made about freeganism. She interviewed me for the piece and included a couple of my soundbites. Check it out here.

Yesterday I commemorated 5 years since my devastating bicycle accident in Orlando, FL. I recognize May 21st as a re-birth day and the conception of GioSafari. Please find more updates about this major life project at this link.

And as always, stay tuned for more on freeganism, community, privilege, revolution, and all the rest! I have lots more to say and lots more time to say it :)

I'm #ontheroad! So much to talk about, tour updates coming soon :D But first, some backlogged items. There's a LOT of new stuff to tell the world wide web about.

1) VideosI spent the days leading up to the tour pressing CDs of my Clown Of God show, so that I would have some to sell as I traveled. The music was available as a free download on NoiseTrade for all of March and through April 11. It's too late now to download the music, but you can still stream the entire soundtrack on YouTube. Here's the finale video.

2) MusicThe Clown Of God soundtrack was replaced on NoiseTrade by a new album, Live At Occupy Raleigh! << click the link to download this new album for FREE (or leave a tip!) The songs were recorded on video at Occupy Raleigh, on December 4, 2011. I pulled the audio and mastered it a bit to throw it up on NoiseTrade. Please download and enjoy! Here's the track list of all original music:

Intro

Sing At The Top Of Your Lungs

Why Lie, I Want A Beer

Vagrants & Vagabonds, Outlaws & Thieves

Everything I Ever Needed To Say (In 17 Syllables)

Four Women (And One Child)

#TakeWallStreet

3) BlogsI've written a couple of new entries. Check out the latest on the Matt 6:24 blog, a post about my final task at my last apartment: Freegan Origami. And a blog on the Kitchen Sink blog about my Heights church community, how they launched me #ontheroad with their generosity, hospitality, and all-around awesomeness.

4) PoetryEXACTLY one year ago today I posted a new poem, inspired by Isaiah 40:8 and Matthew 6:28-30. I've reworked it a bit so that it has rhyme and meter. It will almost certainly be set to music and included on my first full-length album, Simple Songs For Simple Living, to be recorded this summer. Check it:

God clothes all the lilies,though they will one day fall.So I, a humble sunflower,will stand to heed the call -to set my gaze upon the Sonas I ponder my fate -so when beneath the pall I'll know ever unclouded grace.

The presents were unwrapped and the living room left a-clutter. The event was over and everyone else in my nuclear family was recharging to meet with other friends and in-laws. Not me. I sat alone on the sofa with the sounds of Christmas glee, laughter, surprise, and Chipmunk carols only a faint echo in my subconscious. A memory. Of something long past. Of innocence.

Anais walked briskly past the living room when she stopped suddenly. I don't know how she interpreted the look on my face or the distant gaze in my eyes. She only asked, "well, what DID you want for Christmas??"

I looked up sullenly. Pensively, though I already knew the answer. Then with slight jest but real sorrow I replied, "to be understood."

Since its inception, the Matt 6:24 blog has displayed navigation links at the top, organized in a series that reads Blog About Freedom. The first link is the blog itself (of course) and the other two links have been virtually empty for months with only the words "coming soon..." at the top (which you can still see on the about page, lol).

I'm happy to report that I've finally got around to writing the Freedom page, which clarifies what the blog is really all about:

I live, work, play, walk, even run in freedom as I watch so many of my peers running endlessly, aimlessly. This blog documents my journeys as I explore the world beyond the hamster wheel.

I know you've been waiting for the right man to come along. Someone who's thoughtful, sensitive, caring. Someone with unfailing honesty, integrity, and - most of all - modesty. And of course, in times of such economic hardship, someone who will provide for you.

Well, the wait is over. This freegan is single and ready to mingle.

Check out the new blog at Matt 6:24 for a freegan critique on society and an alternative to work toward. Then I pray that you'll come join us!

Many people ask whether I would still practice freeganism with a wife and kids, with my family. The truth is, I don't know! I get the feeling that's still somewhat far off. Nevertheless, I can say that ideally I would remain freegan and they would join me.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"Yeshua (Matt 6:26)

I'm still learning what it means to live in radical abandon for the Kingdom of God, to live out my calling, and to fully trust in God's provision. A large part of that has meant committing my time, energy, and thought to the office of songwriting; busking on the subway trains; becoming freegan.

Just found this note on paypal w a $20 donation attached:

Gio, thank you for your beautiful and inspiring music. The ride in the subway yesterday was lit up by your talent and unassuming stance.

Let's just say this brought me to tears. I still struggle to trust God as I live hand-to-mouth; it often doesn't seem like it, but he always meets me halfway. The simple fact is that I love what I do, my calling, and God is good. I can rest in this.

Anyone can send me a donation or personal gift on paypal! If you appreciate what I do and how I do it, then I would really appreciate any donations in kind! They can be sent, via paypal, to giosafari@gmail.com.

I am a white male (Cuban by ethnic descent but white nonetheless). I grew up in a middle class, relatively functional nuclear family in the Miami suburbs. Both parents were college educated and employed.

I am college educated myself, yet I choose to live as a starving artist, busker, freegan, and activist. I choose to live on a shoestring in the most expensive city in the world. And hard as it is to accept what follows, that choice is itself a luxury.

I am privileged.

Does that diminish what I'm doing with my life or in the city? No, it's what I've been called to. My willingness to leverage my privilege on behalf of the poor, for God's Kingdom, brings God glory all the more.

But there are many more people who live in poverty every day, not by their own choosing, who are also following after the heart of God. I hope to join their ranks in solidarity, to cast my lot with theirs. It is an honor to live and serve alongside them, even to be served by them as well.

This is the kind of radical community I am after - marked by generosity, care, love, and justice - til it can be said that there are no needy folks among us.

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had... God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them."Acts 4

Moreover, I am an "American" heterosexual Christian. I am Privileged with a capital P. Just thought that I should acknowledge my privelege before I post anything further on this here blog.